Hairband with detachable cover



Oct. 12, 1965 J. w. MILLER v 3,211,160

HAIRBAND WITH DETACHABLE COVER Original Filed Dec. 28. 1960 Joe W M/l/er INVENTOR.

il'ted States Patent i HAIRBAND WITH DETACHABLE COVER Joe W. Miller, 713 Cumberland, Bristol, Va. Continuation of application Ser. No. 79,009, Dec. 28, 1960. This application Jan. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 256,192 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-47) of the parent copending application, Serial No. 79,009

filed December 28, 1960, and allowed July 11, 1962 and now abandoned.

Persons conversant with hair grooming and dressing problems are aware that while many and varied practices are in vogue a long prevailing practice involves the use of a ready-to-use resilient arcuate (sometimes referred to as horseshoe-shaped) hairband made of metal or one of v the various currently used plastic materials. While it is no doubt true that regularly marketed hairbands are in and of themselves highly decorative and ornamental it has been observed that for the most part, the ones most commonly found on the market and being used are unadorned, plain and hence economical in construction.

One objective in carrying out the instant advance in the art has to do, generally construed, with providing the exposed or top surface of an ordinary plastic or similar hairband with a pleasing cover, for example simple and practical cover means which serves to enhance the intended eye appeal and attractiveness of an ordinary band and an attractive cover in combination therewith.

In carrying out the instant concept the cover or cover means is such that it is readily attachable and detachable and, when in use, is reliably maintained in its given position atop the hairband.

Considered generically and also as a combination readyto-use accessory the instant invention is characterized by a readily applicable and removable hair hold-down and retainer comprising an arcuately bowed flexibly resilient hairband, and covering means for the top surface only of said hairband, said covering means being separably united with said hairband, being colorfully ornate, and serving to enhance the intended eye-appeal and attractiveness of the overall adaptation when it is being worn.

Novelty is also predicted on the construction above referred to wherein the covering means comprises flexible material which is ribbon-like or in strip form and which may be made from appropriate material (felt, fabric, colorful commercial plastics or the like) as will hereinafter become more readily evident.

Another purpose and aspect of the invention is to permit the wearer 'of the improved hairband to interchange or use interchangeable readily detachable covers of vari- 3,211,160 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 applied and held in place by a novel arrangement of snap fasteners, by bootlike or equivalent pockets at the ends of the strip and in other ways, the surface of the cover strip being such that it can be decorated, if desired, with beads, sequins, appliques or the like.

Furthermore, it is within the purview of the overall concept to put up the combination of component parts in packaged form whereby to thus permit the seller to offer prospective purchasers and users a kit containing one or more hairbands with or without fasteners and a plurality of differently colored cover strips therefor and in addition, ornamental accessories, such as beads, sequins, charms and so on for enthusiastic do-it-yourself users, particularly young girls who are given to such fads.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing the composite or combination headband and accompanying cover constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and illustrating how it is customarily used;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in perspective showing a major portion of the cover means detached;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the cover means by itself;

FIGURE 4 is an edge view showing the ready-to-use hairband and attached cover means;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-section on the plane of the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

. FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modification, that is, each end of the cover may be provided with a pocket-like boot and the corresponding end of the hairband removably fitted therein the snap fasteners being wholly omitted;

FIGURE 7 is section on the plane of the line 77 of FIGURE 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Reference will be had first to FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive. The flexibly-resilient celluloid, thermoplastic or equivalent hairband (sometimes referred to as a headband) is referred to generally by the numeral 10 and is of a more or less conventional form in that it is arcuately bowed and either horseshoe-shaped or U-shaped. It includes a central or bight portion 12 and end or limb porous kinds of materials and colors to harmonize with ones Wearing apparel (dresses, skirts, sweaters and so on). With this in mind the user has at her disposal felt, fabric or equivalent cover strips for shielding and decorating the otherwise plain surface of the band in a manner to suit the wearers artistic taste. Under present prevailing practice this foregoing improved result is not attainable unless a plurality of individual hairbands are prefabricated or otherwise expensively made to accomplish somewhat the same end but, of course, at greater expense.

1 Then, too, novelty is predicated on the use of simple economical cover strips which are suitably made to be tions 14, terminating in rounded free ends 16. In the form shown herein the interior surface 18 is shown provided along its margins with (optional) rows of suitably molded retaining teeth 20 and 22 which assist in keeping the band across the head when it is in use as illustrated in FIG. 1. The band decorating, trimming and adorning means comprises a readily attachable and detachable cover or cover means 24. This means is preferably of band-like or strip form and may be made, depending on the trade and other requirements, of material, as is clear. The cover here shown comprises a strip of felt or the like which is commensurate in length and width with the permanently shaped bendably resilient hairband 10. To the ends desired, there is a central portion 26 which overlies the bight portion 12 and end portions 28 to cover and overlie the limbs or arms 14. The terminal ends are curved or rounded as at 30 to conform with the ends 16. Various devices will be used for detachably mounting the cover ply type. FIG. 2 shows these component parts 10 and 24 with suitability and FIG. 5 shows the separable connecting means. FIG. 1 shows the component parts and 24 together and in use with the two-part adaptation etxending across the wearer's hair rearwardly of and approximately parallel to the hairline A. It is important to again emphasize the interchangeable and detachable aspects of the cover strip 24. It is quite likely, according to present plans, to market a kit with one or more bands 10 and a half a dozen, more or less cover strips 24 in various colors for do-it-yourself use.

It is not desired to limit the invention to snap fasteners. It will therefore be evident that other assembling and retaining and attaching means of an equivalent character may and likely will be utilized. For example, in FIGS. 6 and 7 note that snap fasteners are not used. Here the band 10A is provided with anti-slipping or retaining teeth 38 and the free tip ends 40 are removably and telescopically fitted into the open mouth anchoring'and retaining pockets 42. This may take the form of a felt or an equivalent patch sewed or otherwise secured to the end portions 44 of the cover 46 and providing a band-end retaining boot. Here the cover is merely placed tautly atop band 46 and the end 40 (only one shown) of the band are sprung into the pockets or boots in what is believed to be a practical manner in keeping, of course, with the invention herein disclosed.

It is within the purview of the invention to associate the cover means, broadly construed, with the hairband in ways different from that depicted in the drawing. This is to say, the cover may vary from the strip form disclosed and instead of covering merely the normal top or exposed side of the hairband, it may actually envelope or enclose the hairband. Then( too, it is within the scope of the invention to provide readily applicable and removable and changeable cover means which is cooperable for varying decorative etfectswith the hairband to the extent that varying means may be resorted to'for purposes of detachahly connecting the cover means with the hairband.

It is also a manner of moment to mention that the snap fasteners which are carried by the hairband, instead of being embedded as shown in FIG. 5 for example, could be made integral with the exterior surface of the band, that is by actually molding the headed shanks with the band The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in holding ones hair in place after it has been combed and suitably set; an arcuately bowed hairband adapted to extend across the users hair rearwardly of her hairline, said hairband being of resilient material and the inherent resilient properties thereof serving to retain the band in its intended holddown position, a cover strip superimposed upon and concealing the entire outer surface of said hairband, and means separably connecting said strip with said hairband so that the latter remains in place in its given usable position, said means embodying a terminal end pocket provided at each end. of the strip, each adjacent corresponding end of the hairband fitting removably in its respective pocket, said hairband and strip being substantially commensurate in length and width.

2. An article of headwear comprising a generally U- shaped narrow headband constructed of resilient plastic material for positioning downwardly on the head at a point spaced rearwardly of the hairline, said headband having a smooth external surface and being relatively thin for enabling flexing thereof, the ends of said headband being rounded, and a covering of felt-like material overlying and engaging the external surface of the headi band, pocket forming members on the interior surface of the cover at each end thereof, each pocket forming member having a free inner edge receiving a rounded end of the headband therein, the length of the cover being substantially the same as the length of the headband thereby snugly retaining the cover in place when it is disposed against the outer surface of the headband.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,391 3/13 Baldwin 2-198 X 1,652,462 12/27 Stephens 132-46 1,692,719 11/28- Busey 132-46 1,715,331 5/29 Richter 132-46 1,753,314 4/30 Noto 132-39 2,560,267 7/51 Baker etal. 132-46 2,727,246 12/55 Long 132-59 X 2,778,367 1/57 Gresham et a1 132-48 FOREIGN PATENTS 620,004 1/27 France.

624,247 4/27 France.

1,217,287 12/59 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner, r ours PEMBO, Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN HOLDING ONE''S HAIR IN PLACE AFTER IT HAS BEEN COMBED AND SUITABLY SET; AN ARCUATELY BOWED HAIRBAND ADAPTED TO EXTEND ACROSS THE USER''S HAIR REARWARDLY OF HER HAIRLINE, SAID HARIBAND BEING OF RESILIENT MATERIAL AND THE INHERENT RESILIENT PROPERTIES THEREOF SERVING TO RETAIN THE BAND IN ITS INTENDED HOLDDOWN POSITION, A COVER STRIP SUPERIMPOSED UPON AND CONCEALING THE ENTIR OUTER SURFACE OF SAID HAIRBAND, AND MEANS SEPARABLY CONNECTING SAID STRIP WITH SAID HAIRBAND SO THAT THE LATTER REMAINS IN PLACE IN ITS GIVEN USABLE POSITION, SAID MEANS EMBODYING A TERMINAL END POCKET PROVIDD AT EACH END OF THE STRIP, EACH ADJACENT CORRESPONDING END OF THE HAIRBAND FITTING REMOVABLY IN ITS RESPECTIVE POCKET, SAID HAIRBAND AND STRIP BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COMMENSURATE IN LENGTH AND WIDTH. 